Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 55

Gorgeous Guest Post: Amanda Oaks of Kind Over Matter

Kelly Rae: Once or twice a month, I'll be featuring a guest writer on my blog — someone with a big message to share. It's part of my new sponsorship program and I'm THRILLED to have Amanda Oaks of Kind Over Matter be our first featured guest post writer. I am deeply, personally inspired by all that she does and how she does it. Her mission is transformative, her writing beautiful, and her newest book, written for mamas? I've read it, devoured it, and found myself in a constant stream of "yes, yes, yeses" the entire time I read it. I know you will enjoy her post today....so good. 

(If you're interested in writing a gorgeous guest post, head over here for the details)


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Zen & The Art Of Being A Work-At-Home Mama
(an excerpt)

I see you, Mama.

Your lips pressed against the plane of your baby’s forehead, breathing in & out, usually singing, humming, doing the mother’s dance, from one hip to the other. Pacing the floors, back & forth in the rocking chair, unconditionally exhausted, breasts hanging heavy & free under your top, dripping. You hardly know if you are awake or dreaming. The minutes slip into one another like hands, fingers intertwined, making a bridge from morning to night. You walk it. Again & again. Unknowing.

Those first days, months, the first year:

Fierce delicacy. Fierce Love. Fierce letting go.

Nothing else in the entire world can compare to or prepare you for this.

As our bellies balloon, the fear tickles our hearts... this song yet sung.

Beginning with a tiny heart beating, so quiet, muffled, soft & strong beneath your skin.

Your belly, a kick drum, set in motion, irregular bass beats, surprising you...

Preparing you for the sleeplessness.

The first note, wild, filling the room, every cell of your body —

Fierce delicacy. Fierce Love. Fierce letting go.

This bridge that we walk from day to night every single day, we hardly ever talk about the broken boards that we get tripped up on again & again.

We hardly mention them, but it is all-knowing, every single one of us, from now, back through the beginning of our time here on this earth, all the mothers who came before us, all the mothers cultivating life right now as you read this, we all know this dance.

This fierce delicacy. This fierce Love. This fierce letting go.

Moment to moment it teaches us to relearn lesson after lesson.

Looking at ourselves & our children, standing in true presence, our heart balloons up into our throats. The Love, a Love so grand that language could never contain it. The Love, always there, a constant. It shapes itself over our lives, like skin. Always growing, stretching, sometimes retracting in a flash of our impatience, we keep it soft with our inner work, we shed the cells that threaten it. We choose it over fear.

With age we begin to understand its pure power.





Zenin, my 4 year old, does this divine thing… he walks toward me with his arms outstretched for me to pick him up. When I do, he gives me this magical hug, pulls away, puts his little hands on my cheeks, looks into my eyes & then smiles this smile that could light up the darkest corner of the universe.

He opens my most precious & sacred gift—
my ability to love & be loved.

In that moment, his toddler-sized legs wrapped tight around my mama hips, he does not see what I am not or the dried snot hanging out on the left shoulder of my shirt, the dirty dishes in the sink, the extra pounds sitting on my frame like a thick-yarned cardigan, the crumbs grounded into the living room carpet from this morning’s snack, the emails that didn’t get answered yet, the blog posts that aren’t done—

he only sees love
& without words,

he mirrors that back to me so it is the only thing that I see too. In myself, in him, in our home, in all of everything around us.

In that moment, I am now & I am enough.

So dear heart, I want to end this post by extending that to you...




My hands on your cheeks,
smiling deep from my heart at all that you are.

I see you & you’re beautiful,
just the way you are.

Everything is just as it should be,
& you are more
than enough.





Hi there, I'm so happy to have this space to connect with you here, thank you so much Kelly! My name is Amanda Oaks & I curate a space on the web called, Kind Over Matter, where myself & an array of guests from all over the web inspirit you to raise your consciousness & touch the world with your greatness. Last month, I released a book out into the universe called, Zen & The Art Of Being A Work-At-Home Mama. It's just not for work-at-home mamas though, it's for everyone.

Scribbling down the outline furiously one morning before my boys woke. Thoughts on journal pages while they sat in the middle of the living room floor thumbing through books. Paragraphs that turned into chapters after they went down for their afternoon naps.

This is my journey. I wrote this book to remember what I know to be true. I wrote it for you. I wrote it for me. I wrote it for our kids.

In the book, I share my story. I share systems, encouragement & ways of thinking that totally shifted the way I move in Mamahood, my business & in life. It's honest, hopeful & helpful. I also asked 12 successful work-at-home mamas to share their wisdom & boy, did they ever bring it! It's full of love, for you, for me, for our businesses, our children & the world. 140 pages of my know-how divided into 22 sections of sage, poetic + practical advice wrapped up in a zentastic bow because I believe in your freedom just as much as I do my own.

This is my invitation to you to click on over & explore what this book could offer you. It's at a Pay What Feels Good for You price because that's what feels good to me.

Love, Light & Deep Respect,

Happy Birthday to my one, precious life

Dear Life....available hereToday is my birthday.
I'm 37 years young.

Since having True, we've been getting all our life business in order. Living wills. Last will and testaments. Durable power of attorneys. As I was completing the last part of my will recently - the part that asks what kind of burial/ceremony/etc I'd like to have - I started to write down specific details about the kind of celebration and gathering I'd like for my friends and family to attend when I die. I wanted music, and chocolate, and storytelling, and photos, and laughter...a celebration of a well lived, well loved life.

There was something about that process that was so emotional for me - imagining my not being here in this physical container/body, in this lifetime, on this planet, in this world, with this family, with these friends, inside this one juicy little ol' life of mine. Because the truth is is that I really, really love living. I love everything about living. The lessons, the love, the tiny moments, the beauty, the adventures, the learning and unlearning, the ahas, the meltdowns, the creativity, the relationships, the....journey. Living is a journey I'm quite in love with.

So today, for my 37th birthday, I made a little love note (a quick collage), addressed to life. Because in the end, I want everyone to know that I genuinely, truly, passionately loved living. And how grateful I was for every. single. breath.

XO

ps: If you're up for commenting, finish this sentence, "Dear Life, thank you for....." I'd love to know. Let's start a juicy, rich, full of awesomeness. And let's wish every day, and every breath a happy birthday of its own.

How Cute Is That: Washi Tape + Eyeglass Case = Fun.

How Cute Is That? is my mom’s favorite expression — and our ongoing home decor & DIY series. From aprons to attics to alternative offices, we’re breathing new life into anything old, sharing inspired ideas,  and spinning mismatched scraps into charming decor. And YES, you can try this at home! 


We're thinking today's project would be an awesome one for kids, teenagers, and anyone who loves tape, especially washi tape. Super simple, but cute cute cute.


Kelly Rae: I can NEVER find my black eyeglass case in the black hole of my tote bag. Drives me nuts. So the other day, while browsing the internets for a bright colored eyeglass case, I thought why not collage yours in bright colored washi tape?


Mom: Love that idea.


Kelly Rae: So I simply got out my trusty supply of washi tape and got to it, collaging pieces of tape all over the front and back of the case. I enjoyed the meditation of ripping off pieces of tape....and I love washi tape so much (so much) because it stays put, yet it's easily removable/repositionable too (MT is my favorite brand. I find it adheres really, really well)



Kelly Rae: Once the case was covered in washi tape, I added one of Martha Stewart's sticky borders and called it done and done.

Mom: How cute is that! Happy washi-taping, friends!

PS: Click here to see all posts in the How Cute Is That series

Hello, Inspired.

Bumper sticker found during a walk with TrueI wanted to be Cindy Lauper, Punky Brewster, and Madonna in the 80s when I was 8, 9, 10, 11 years old. Today I realize the common denominator: all women, creative pioneers, individualists, and inspirationalists. This is who I wanted to be and this is who I'm still weaving through my life, today. I wanted to be creative, and I wanted to make a difference. And I wanted to dress with sass. I am so inspired by this reminder to remember who we wanted to be.

Photo of me by Viv McmasterInspired by a day I shared with the mega talented Vivienne McMaster. I've been a huge fan of her work for a long, long time. She sees things in such vibrant, quirky ways. Love, love. I especially love this post. I think she is brilliant. Here's a peek at a few more shots that she took during our day (she made me look so lovely!)


I am inspired that my parents would have a vision for an old shed in their backyard as a clubhouse for True and his little buddies. How crazy cute is this? INPSIRED! When it's all done, I'll share before and after shots....


I'm inspired by John and his obsession with paddle boarding. I went with him last week for a little adventure to one of Portland's lakes. So serene. Awesome workout. Inspired.





I'm inspired by all the hearts that have been popping up in my world. There's been a ton of synchrociities happening around here and I know it has something to do with these hearts. It must.



This simple gadget has changed my life (and is helping keep trackpad arthritis at bay). Love it and cannot believe I've waited this long to get one.


We cleaned out our kitchen in preparation for a 21 day cleanse. We are on day 7 and we already feel major benefits. More on this soon, but definitely inspired by wellness and lifestyle changes.

Other inspirations that have caught my eye lately:


She and all her creativity just moved to Portland. How lucky am I? I going to make her be my friend. Oh yes, yes I am.

Her book just released and I'm waiting for it to arrive. I went to college with Alena and she was a HUGE inspiration to me many years ago when I began to jump into creative biz. She was one of the people who helped answer my million questions. I studied her website, how she did things, how she packaged her stuff. She shared all that practical information with me (so generously) and she inspired me on the creative front, too, and even asked me if I would contribute a couple of projects to her first book (which I did, in 2006 when I was a major newbie to creative life). Old friends...and it's been so fun to watch her move along in her creativity and crazy awesome success all of these years. GO ALENA!

I love and admire her. Here is one of the many reasons why.

True is 19 months. I am just now feeling like I have the ...

True is 19 months. I am just now feeling like I have the hang of working + being productive, while also being a mama. Here's what I've learned about how to be a business owner while also being a mama.


1. Separate your time in conscious ways. Meaning, when you're with your kids, you're WITH your kids. No checking emails, no surfing your facebook biz pages, no checking in with work AT ALL - even during naps. I find that this helps me stay focused and less scattered as I move in and out of worlds. If I have True in the mornings, I don't dare enter work world during our time together. It can wait until the afternoon or it's dedicated schedule that I've created for it. Otherwise I never quite feel at peace or in the present moment. When he's napping, I use that time to rest, read a magazine, sit in the sun, call a friend - anything that nourishes.

The same goes for work. When you're working, you're WITH your work- no phone calls, no interruptions. I currently work 3-4 days/week (about 30hrs/week) which isn't a ton of time considering all that there is to do. How do I get it all done? I'm hyper focused during those hours so that I can actually get stuff done. Since starting a family and letting go of my 60+ hour work weeks, I'm AMAZED at what I can get done in four focused hours.

Bottom line? Defined work times, defined family times. No crossing into work world when you are in family world. No crossing over into family world when you are in work world. The result: you're truly inside the moment in whatever world you are in and that kind of peace is priceless.

2. Housework. Let it go. If you can, hire a housekeeping service. We have someone who comes in twice/month for all the deep cleaning. We swiffer in between and if it weren't for my mom, our laundry would get done only once/month. Our current routine is to spend about 20 minutes at the end of the day picking up (True helps), putting stuff away, loading the dishwasher, etc so that we can enjoy the evening when he goes to bed around 6pm.

3. Success in business means motion. Motion means putting your work out into the world, even if it's not perfect. For me this means no more super edited blog posts (which means many typos, etc - ah well), or finely crafted newsletters, or lots of preparation. I'm learning to simply get it out there - no waiting for the perfect time, or when it feels more finished or or or. Just get it out, so that you can make room and time for the next motion whether that's another painting, another blog post, another newsletter, etc etc. Success means motion. Perfectionism stops motion in every way.

Weekend Spotlight Love

Weekend Spotlight Love is a weekly series that features my amazing sponsors. Want to reach 150,000+ Possibilitarians with your business message – every month? Become a Sponsor – all the details are right over here.
**************Jessica Swift Rainboots 

I believe we each deserve to be exquisitely happy.I believe we are meant to think big, to be bold and brave in our lives, and to give ourselves permission live our wildest dreams.I believe color affects our moods in big ways and that surrounding yourself with objects, colors, and patterns that you find beautiful will enhance your life in deeply joyful ways.With these beliefs in mind, I created my first ever line of rain boots. They are much more than just another pair of pretty patterned boots – they hold secret messages on the inside! Messages to inspire you... to empower you... to make you happy... and to remind you that your wildest dreams are available to you!

The boots are available now at jessicaswift.com – not only will they brighten the gloomiest of days but the gloomiest of moods as well. I invite you to step into your own joyful life and splash around- because you deserve to be exquisitely happy and to look cute doing it!

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Susannah Conway: Unravelling e-Course



The Unravelling e-course is an 8-week online class designed to help you heal the way you see your self and your world, using photography and journalling to access hidden thoughts & dreams and encourage personal realisations, all in the safe space of a like-minded community.

Photographer & author Susannah Conway is your guide through this process, sharing her insights and wisdom gleaned from a four-year voyage through grief and healing. You don’t need any previous photography experience to do this course — all you need is a camera (iPhones are perfect for unravelling!), a journal & pen and an open heart.

Registration for the autumn session of Unravelling: Ways of Seeing My Self opens in August — you can see what past participants have said about their Unravelling journeys over here (there are videos too :)

Give yourself permission to take a couple of hours out of your week to devote solely to YOU; this isn’t self-indulgence, this is nurturing, nourishing soul time — come join us for some autumn unravelling!

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Big thanks to my sponsors! I'm honored to highlight their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor you can find out more information here.

21 months...

I've been carrying him more and more in the ergo. I know these days are coming to an end soon, and I just want to have him on my chest for as long as possible.

You were right when you said it would be bittersweet, their getting bigger. I miss his infancy. I miss it a lot. It just flew through. It all has.

You were right when you said they just get incredibly sweet, incredibly hilarious, incredibly personalitied-out. Our guy is bossy with a capital B, confident. He is sweet. (He demands hugs and kisses of everyone, every toy, every doll, every thing. Yesterday he said hello to his hand and then demanded a hug and a kiss from his hand. HILARIOUS and adorable.) Our guy is also super sporty and dude-like with his obsessions with tools and golf and t-ball. And he loves to read, always has.

(a recent scene from our living room)
You were right when you said there would be a constant push and pull. Feels like my time is either with him, or with work. When I'm with him, I miss my work. When I'm working, I miss him (terribly). I am constantly navigating the pushing and pulling, but mostly being extremely conscious that he'll only be 3 months once. 9 months once. 15  months once. And now, 21 months once. This perspective keeps me grounded and really, really with him.

You were right when you said parenting little ones would be have us up against our edges in unrelenting ways. It often feels impossible to finish a conversation, a meal, a thought, a blog post, an idea, an email in one full breath. Instead, everything plays out over days, weeks, months. And so much, (so much), gets lost along the way. I often wonder how, HOW do we (or anyone with kids) get anything done, especially when it comes to running a biz. Thank god for support. For family. For each other.



But mostly, you were right when you said it would be worth it. On a daily basis, my heart nearly bursts with a specific joyful beat, meant just for him.

6 month check up on my word of the year: Innovate

Dear Innovate,
It's been six months since I declared you relevant, when I launched the idea of you into my life, into my business, into my consciousness. At the time, I chose you because I wanted to push up against my boundaries and invent new ways of doing things in my life, and in my work. I wanted to break rules, create new ones, and redefine what was possible. I also wanted to celebrate what was already there, but reinvent what needed new life - by learning new things and inventing new ways of doing the old things.

Most importantly, I wanted to try on new ways of considering everything and turning every thought upside down, sideways, and so on until an aha hit, until an idea emerged, until inspiration fostered movement.

Movement.

Innovation = movement forward. That's what I wanted. That was the goal.



And so here we are, six months later. And in some (mostly slow, mostly small but getting bigger) ways, my life has been turned upside down and sideways because of you. Because of what you have inspired. Because of what you have taught me to unlearn.

I went to see an energy healer earlier this year. New for me. It inspired Movement in the forward direction. I began to see a naturopath and consider new ways of wellness, new ways to keep my mind and my body at it's maximum potential. More Movement. More forward motion. In between all of that, we are currently in the midst of a 21day whole food cleanse (no dairy, no wheat). Totally new way of eating for us (kale chips! beet chips! protein smoothies! kale everything! spinach everything!). Movement. Recreating a whole new way of eating, a whole new way of living. Innovation.



And then there is business, creative life. In just the few months since declaring you a part of my life, you've really done a number on my biz life. Did you see the new line of cuff bracelets? We have you to thank for that one, Innovate. Inspired by new ways of doing old things, I also completely revamped the sponsorship program, and restructured some key things on my site, including a lovely new bio, a new way of sending thoughtful, meaningful, super cute newsletters, and so much more. You are teaching me that we really can craft the exact life, including a business life that we want. And this means making our own rules. Who said bios and newsletters and sponsorship programs, etc need to be stuffy and blah? Thanks for helping me see the light. And thanks for the inspiration that has fostered movement (forward).

And guess what else? Because of you, my creative thinking is on fire when it comes to creating content for this blog. The following new series will be making their debut soon here in this space. Thank you, innovation. More movement. More forward motion.






Plus several more projects in the works, including The Possibilitarian Project (it's good, so good), Art On The Go, and Soulful Lessons From An Accidental Entrepreneur.

I could go on and on. It's as if some switch has been turned on, a faucet left running, a windfall of inspiration. Turns out unlearning old ways, and inventing new ways is a way into motion, movement, and new beginnings. I love beginnings. And I am most definitely at the beginning of this innovation thing. I've got the bug.



Thanks for everything, but mostly for reminding me that we really do get to make the rules, that we get to choose, that we get to craft the exact life, the exact business, the exact way of seeing things that have been waiting for us all along.

You might be my favorite "word of the year" yet.
Warmly,
Kelly Rae

How Cute Is That? Inspiring garden ideas

How Cute Is That? is my mom’s favorite expression — and our ongoing home decor & DIY series. From aprons to attics to alternative offices, we’re breathing new life into anything old, sharing inspired ideas,  and spinning mismatched scraps into charming decor. And YES, you can try this at home!


Kelly Rae: Spotted these darling rainboots turned into the cutest garden containers ever on a neighbor's stoop and thought I must do this, I must do this with these!

Mom: How seriously cute is that!

  Kelly Rae: A peek into mom's backyard. I love, love the idea of an old bike with a basket of flowers in the garden. Mom, how'd you come up with this brilliant idea?

Mom:  Since moving to Portland last summer and into the new house late in September, I am experiencing all of Portland's seasons for the first time.  Nesting a little each month.  In Florida we had a bungalow and everything had a "spot."  The hard part now is finding a "home" for some of our possessions.  In particular is an old tricycle purchased in the early 1980's along with a saleman's sample iron bed.

As time allows I rummage in the cluttered storage shed and drag out things.  Sometimes I say "why did we pay to bring this 3000 miles!??"  So I find a bike I love, a basket I used to love...hummmm


Kelly Rae: For those of you with, like, a ton of space for a full sized bed in your garden, this is for you. I spotted this gorgeous garden bed at one of my favorite nurseries in town. Awesome idea.


Kelly Rae: For those of you who have just a wee little garden space but still want the bed idea. This is another of mom's garden projects that lives in her backyard. LOVE!

Mom:  This iron sample bed was used by salesman at the turn of the century making sales calls.  They traveled around with sample size beds (as well as many other pieces of furniture).  Kelly Rae had this doll bed in her room as a little girl.  It didn't get much use as she was such a tom boy....preferring her bike and pink hot-wheels.   After seeing the big bed in a local nursery....another hummmm.

 Kelly Rae: As we were putting together this post, the image above came through Pam's instagram feed. OMG, we're in sync. Love this idea of using vintage trucks and cars for garden containers. BRILLIANT!
How cute is that!Happy gardening, friends!xo, Kelly Rae + Mom

ps: Looking for other unique garden container ideas? Check out this google image search.
(comments open)

Weekend Spotlight Love

Weekend Spotlight Love is a weekly series that features my amazing sponsors. Want to reach 150,000+ Possibilitarians with your business message – every month? Become a Sponsor – all the details are right over here. 
**************Jane Davenport  – The Artomologist


G'day! I took the leap to full-time Artist 12 years ago and since then my work has been exhibited internationally, published and licensed. But it wasn't until I began Art Journaling and fully embraced drawing and painting that I felt all the dots were creatively connected within me.
I started teaching online last year and have had thousands take my classes since. Watching a person blossom before my eyes is a little bit miraculous...being part of each of my student's creative journey gives me a HUGE WARM MONSTER FUZZY ... So although I want to empower you through harnessing your creative confidence with my aim of getting you madly, art-brave and drunk with your own brilliance, I do so for slightly selfish reasons ... it makes ME happy too!
My Super-Power is sharing how to draw from your imagination. I believe that art doesn't have to be serious to be meaningful.
I adore Kelly Rae's art and approach to life and am looking forward to connection with kindred spirits who enjoy this space too!
http://www.janedavenport.com/workshops/
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The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor is back with Module 2: Creating your professional identity! This course is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern designer. Students have gone on to launch their own design studios, secure licensing deals, be featured in design books and win national competitions. Come and join us for Module 2, starting June 18, and learn how to design and brand your way. Find out more and register here.

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Big thanks to my sponsors! I'm honored to highlight their offerings. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor you can find out more information here.